Device for cleaning the surface slots of tunnels of underground third-rail systems



D. W. PECK.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING THE SURFACE SLOTS 0F TUNNELS 0F UNDERGROUND THIRD RAIL SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.7 1920- 1,375,064. Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET u all INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS D W. PECK. DEVICE FOR CLEANING THE SURFACE SLOTS 0F TUNNELS 0F UNDERGROUND THIRD RAIL SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1920.

1,375,064. Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

2 SHEE'I'S-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS rare -DUNCAI\T W. PEGK, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

r series.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING THE SUI FACE SLOTS OF TUNNELS OF UNDERGROUND THIRD- RAIL SYSTEMS.

intense.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

Application filed August 7, 1920. Serial No. 401,969.

To all whom it may concem: Be it known that I, DUNCAN WV. PECK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Device for Cleaning the Surface Slots of Tunnels of Underground Third-Rail Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object means for cleaning, and especially for removing ice and snow from the surface slots of the tun nels of railways in which the trolley wire, cable or third rail is located beneath the surface of the roadbed, which meansis par ticularly simple in construction, rapid in operation and highly efficient and durable in use.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations'and constructions hereinafter setforth. and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views. a

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of this device, the truck and contiguous parts for supporting the same being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of parts seen in Fig. 1, the roadbed and the slot being shown in section. V p 3 is a sectional view on line 3'3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of another form of tool for cleaning such slots.

This device for cleaning the surface slots of the tunnels of underground third rail systems comprises a tool for entering the slot and movable along the slot, the tool preferably having cutting edges on its advance side. This tool is here shown as a downwardly and forwardly inclined bar arranged to extend into the slot so that its lower end extends under the ice or snow coverin the slot and r s the same u wardly as the tool travels along the slot.

be ofan'ysuitable form, size and construetion .and provided with suitable propelling means, or it may be unprovided with propelling means and pushed or pulled along the track either byhand or by a power driven car.

The bar 1 inclines downwardly and forwardlyso that the lower portion thereof depends atan' inclined angle into the slot 5 of the tunnel 6 in which the third rail is located. the bar having its front edge face preferably concave at 7 to provide cutting edges 8 onopposite sides thereof. The bar is also preferably provided with means for running along the upper surface of the tunnel, this means being here illustrated as a roller 9 carried by the bracket 10 of the rear side of the bar above the cutting edges thereof.

In order to conform to the curves and irregularities or misalinements of the slot 5, the bar is mounted to swing laterally, and as here shown, this movement is permitted by a brace 11 pivoted at 12, at its frontend to the bar and having its rear end connected by clevi'ces 13 to a body of a truclr3, thebrace also holding the bar from rearward movement. The pivot 12 serves as a fulcrum point about which the bar tends to fulcrum when pressure is applied to the front or cutting edges at the lower end of the bar. The upper end of the bar, as here shown, extends 7 under a cross-rod 14 carried at the upper end of an upright 15 rising from the platform of the truck, this cross-rod being prov vided with a series of notches or teeth 16 for receiving the upper edge of the bar and holding the bar in any lateral adjustment. The bar is provided with a handle 17 atits upper end by means of which it can be manipulated by the operator at curves to follow the slot as the car travels along the tracks. By pushing downwardly on the handle'17 the bar lis disengaged from the teeth 16 and can be-swung laterally into any position necessary to guide the lower or cutting end of the bar along the slot 5. The pressure of theobstruction as ice or snow in the slot against the lower cutting edge of the bar tends to hold the bar in' engagement with the teeth 16. During any lateral ad-' justment of the bar 1, the bar swings about the axis of the clevis 13. Upward'movement of the brace 11 and hence'upward movement of the cutter bar out of the slot is provided by a Stop or bar 17 carried on the frame of the truck and extending over or crosswise of the brace.

* Although I preferto mount the bar on the truck, nevertheless, it may be used alone without the truck and of a form similar to that shown in Fig. 4, in which the bar is shown as provided with laterally extending shoulders 18, for riding on the surface of the tunnel on opposite sides of the slot. In the operation of the form of my invention, shown in Fig. 4c, the lower end of the bar is placed in the slot and pushed or worked along the slot by the operator, who takes hold of the upper end of the bar.

The bar 1 is here shown as formed in the shape of a T in cross-section, the head flanges of the T being removed at the lower end thereof on which the cutting edges 8 are formed and also at the upper end thereof where the bar coacts with a rack 16.

This tool is particularlyadvantageous in that the slots of the tunnels can be qui kly cleaned by merely pushing the cutter bar along the slot.

What claim is:

1. A device for cleaning the surface slots of'tunnels of underground third rail systems comprising an inclined bar for entering the slot and having fulcrums above the lower end of the bar and arranged to bear on the surfaces of the tunnel on opposite sides of. the slot in the rear of-the point of contact of the cutter bar with the obstructions in the slot, substantially as and for the purpose described. 7

2. A device for cleaning the surface slots of the tunnels of underground third rail systems comprising a cutter bar for entering V the slot and'having IIIBiLIlSfOI' engaging the surfaces of the tunnel on opposite sides of the slot and cutting edges below said means, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

3. A device for cleaning the surface slots of the tunnels of underground third rail systems comprising a truck and cuttersupported by the truck' and depending therefrom with its point of contact directly beneath the axle of truck wheels'of the truck, eiubstantially as and for the purpose specie r 4. A device for cleaning the surface slots of the tunnels of underground third rail systems comprising a truck and a cutter supported by the truck and depending there-- from with its point of contact directly vbeneath the axle of truck'wheels of the truck, the cutter being mounted to have a sidewise adjustment to conform to the curves in the slot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. r

5. A device for cleaning the surface slots with its point of contact directly below the axle of the truck wheels of the truck, substantially as and for the purpose described.v

6. A device for cleaning the surface slots of the tunnels of underground third rail systems comprising a truck, and a downwardly and forwardly inclined cutter bar supported'by the truck and having fulcrums above its lower'end arranged to bear on the surfaces of the tunnel on opposite sides of the slot, in the rear of the point of contact of the bar with the obstructions in the slot, sulstantially as and for" the purpose specifie r 7. A device for cleaning the surface slots of the tunnels of underground third rail systems comprising a truck, and a down wardly and forwardly inclined cutter bar supported by the truck and having fulcrums above its lower end arranged to bear on the surfaces of the tunnel on vopposite sides of the slot in the rear of the point of contact of the bar with the obstructions in the slot, said bar being also arranged with its point of contact where it enters the slot directly beneath the axle of wheels of the truck, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A device for cleaning the surface slots of the tunnels of underground third'rail systems comprising a truclr and a cutter supported by the truck and depending therehaving its lower end arranged to enter the slot and being provided with cutting edges, means supporting the cutter bar to permit the same to move laterally to conform to the line of the slot, substantially as and for the purpose specified. i

g 9. A device for cleaning the surface slots of the tunnelsv of underground third rail systems comprising a truck, a downwardly and forwardly inclined cutter bar carried by the truck having its lower end provided with cutting edges and arranged to extend into the slot, 'means for holding the cutter bar to permit lateral movements thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. r

10. A device for cl aning the surface slots of the tunnels of underground third rail systems comprising a truck, a downwardly and forwardly inclined cutter bar carried bythe truck having its lower end provided with cutting edges arranged in the slot, the cutter bar being provided with means near its lower end for riding on the surfaces of the tunnels on opposite sides of the slot, substantially as and for the purpose described. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, inthe county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 18th day of July, 1920. V

Duncan w. rEcK. 

